Improvement in saddle-trees



A. TEAS,

Saddle-Trees.

Patented Oct 28,1873.

Knve n+0 F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW runs, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SADDLE-TREES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,164, dated October28, 1873; application filed February 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW TEAS, ofCincinn'ati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Saddlelllrees, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention consists of a saddle-tree formed with alternate recesses oneach side to frame in the tang of the backhand, and other leathernportions of the saddle, with flanges for attaching the edges of thecover, so arranged that when padded and finished the whole downwardpressure of the saddle when in use is distributed between two cushions,lying one on each side of the spine, while the arch of the saddle isheld up above the withers by these cushions, so as to clear thementirely and prevent any pressure, heat, or chafing at that part. Myinvention possesses the further advantage of combining in a high degreestrength with lightness, the form of the tree being such as to affordgreat stiffness, while dispensing with all superfluous metal.

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a saddletree constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one-halfof a saddle constructed in accordance with my invention, showing mymethod of attaching the leathern covers to the metal. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a portion of a covered saddle, the outer cover orjockey being broken away to show the insertion of the tang of theback-band.- Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the tree,showing my method of attaching a changeable terret and backband.

A is a saddletree, of cast metal, curved to the arch of the saddle,having holes a drilled along its edges for riveting or otherwisesecuring the leather cover. Around the central portion of the tree iscast a hollow flat rib, B, gradually rising above the upper surface ofthe tree,extendin g about three-quarters of the distance from the archto y the lower edge, at which point, C, it is cut squarely ofi'. Asimilar rib rises gradually on the inner surface of the tree, its underside being cut away throughout the upper three-quarters of its length,leaving only the sides of the rib, ex-

cept in the lower quarter, where the flat bottom D and sides form asunken recess in the tree, thus leaving alternate recesses formed by thetop and bottom of the ribs raised and sunk in the tree, between which isthe quadrilateral openingO for the insertion of the backband and otherleathern portions, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The flap-cover of thesaddle E rests upon the flanges f of the tree, to which it is riveted ata; but it has two longitudinal cuts extending from its upper edge belowthe opening 0, forming a tongue, 0, which is inserted through theopening and under the rib B. A supplelnentaryor stren gthening strap, F,is' inserted below this tongue, and the two are secured together, and tothe bottom of the ribD, by rivets or small nails 0. Above the tongue 0,between it and the upper rib B, is inserted the tang of the backband Gr,which may be also riveted to the tongue 0 and strap f if a permanentfastening is desired, or secured simply by the attachment of the terretK, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to render it detachable at pleasure.Outside of the flap-cover E is placed the jockey H, attached to the treeby rivets g 9 through its upper portion near the arch of the saddle, andby the terret K, which screws into a nut, k, beneath the aperture b inthe rib B, a suitable recess being cut in the leather below to receivethis nut. A flattened seat, h, is formed under the arch of the tree toreceive the hook The raised and sunken ribs B D give the metal tree aform combining great stiffness and strength with extreme lightness, andthe sunken rib D, with the interior tongues of leather 0 F, forms thebase of a cushion, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) which raises thearch of the saddle entirely above the withel s of the horse, anddistributes the pressure upon theribs on each side, avoiding all gallingand chafing at that part. The tongue 6 and strap F. also form a shieldover the nut and screw of the terret K.

For rendering both terret and back-band changeable at will, the nut k ofthe terret is formed with lips or flanges Z Z upon its inner side, Fig.4, by which it is secured to thebackband, whieh has 110 other attachmentto the In testimony of which invention 1 hereunto tree, so that, whenthe terret K is unscrewed, set my hand. the back-band and. nut may beWithdrawn and ANDREW TEAS. smother substituted.

I claim- Witnesses: A saddle-tree having the flanges f and al- FRANKMILLWARD, ternete raised and sunken recesses B D, sub- J. L. VVARTMANN.

stsmtially as and for the purpose specified.

